Best hotels in Nagano City

The Saihokukan is Nagano City's grand old dame — a heritage hotel dating to 1890 that has hosted Japanese emperors, legendary shogi title matches, and cultural icons from novelist Natsume Soseki to painter Okamoto Taro. During the 1998 Winter Olympics, its ballroom hosted the Imperial tea reception — a first for any private venue in Japan. The hotel's own tagline is disarmingly honest: "not everything is exquisite, but it's a comfortable hotel." A characterful, historically rich base for exploring Nagano City and nearby Zenko-ji temple.

Takei Ryokan is a former Buddhist temple lodging in Nagano's sacred Togakushi highlands — well off the beaten track. The thatched-roof main building dates back to 1745 and is a protected historic structure, with original Buddhist carvings still visible in the beams. Just two guest rooms mean genuine intimacy, with private baths and seasonal Shinshu cuisine served in the ancient main house. No spa, no polish — just the rare privilege of sleeping inside a living piece of Japanese history.

Located in the mountains, 200 meters above sea level, there is a village lined with thatched-roof temple lodgings. Welcome to Awai Togakushi Hotel. This hotel is a decentralized retreat rooted in the local culture of Togakushi. A place where people and nature coexist.